“With many respects to the Board of Managers, please to accept the good wishes of your friend and fellow-citizen,
                                         “John Quincy Adams.”

On the 4th of July, 1831, at half past three o’clock in the afternoon, the venerable James Monroe, fifth President of the United States, departed life, aged 73 years.  He died at the residence of his son-in-law, Samuel L. Gouverneur Esq., in the city of New York.  His decease had been for some days expected; but life lingered until the anniversary of his country’s independence, when his spirit took its departure to a better world.  Throughout the United States, honors were paid to his memory by hoisting of flags at half mast, the tolling of bells, firing of minute guns, the passing of resolutions, and delivery of eulogies.  He was, emphatically, a great and good man, respected and beloved by the people of all parties, without exception.  There are few instances in the history of the world, of more remarkable coincidences than the death of three Presidents of the United States, who took most prominent parts in proclaiming and achieving the independence of our country, on the anniversary of the day when the declaration of that independence was made to the world.  The noise of the firing of cannon, in celebrating the day, caused the eyes of the dying Monroe to open inquiringly.  When the occasion of these rejoicings was communicated to him, a look of intelligence indicated that he understood the character of the day.

At this anniversary of our National Independence, Mr. Adams delivered an oration before the citizens of Quincy.  It was an able and eloquent production.  The following were the concluding paragraphs.  In reference to nullification, which was threatened by some of the Southern States, he said:—­

“The event of a conflict in arms, between the Union and one of its members, whether terminating in victory or defeat, would be but an alternative of calamity to all.  In the holy records of antiquity, we have two examples of a confederation ruptured by the severance of its members, one of which resulted, after three desperate battles, in the extermination of the seceding tribe.  And the victorious people, instead of exulting in shouts of triumph, came to the house of God, and abode there till even, before God; and lifted up their voices, and wept sore, and said,—­O Lord God of Israel why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to-day one tribe lacking in Israel?  The other was a successful example of resistance against tyrannical taxation, and severed forever the confederacy, the fragments forming separate kingdoms; and from that day their history presents an unbroken series of disastrous’ alliances, and exterminating wars—­of assassinations, conspiracies, revolts, and rebellions, until both parts of the confederacy sunk into tributary servitude to the nations around them; till the countrymen of David and Solomon hung their harps upon the willows of Babylon, and were totally lost amidst the multitudes of the Chaldean and Assyrian monarchies, ’the most despised portion of their slaves.’